I eat lunch at my desk every day.
No microwave smells.
No mess.
No noise.
The coworker sitting next to me is vegan. I respected that — never commented on her food, never judged her choices.
But yesterday, while I was eating a simple burger, she snapped.
“Stop bringing meat,” she said.
“You’re not alone here. Some of us feel sick from the smell.”
I didn’t argue. I just finished eating and moved on.
This morning, I walked into the office like any other day — and froze.
HR had sent out a department-wide email.
Instead of banning food…
Instead of targeting me…
They reminded everyone that personal dietary choices are not violations, harassment goes both ways, and no employee has the right to control what others eat at their desks.
They even added something else.
If food smells bother someone, they are welcome to use the break room — or request a desk move.
The silence in the office was deafening.
My coworker didn’t say a word all day.
Turns out, respect at work isn’t about forcing others to change —
it’s about learning when your boundaries end.
